Surprise, surprise, new 914 Options

[930cabman]

Great news, a new to us 914 from the West coast is scheduled to arrive Friday or Saturday. I spoke with the carrier today and he informed me "the keys are locked inside the car". Just great, makes the anticipation even better than I was expecting. I called the seller and he told me the drivers door had been "fussy" for some time and "now it evidently has failed to work" "passenger side has not worked in awhile" Seller said "you might have to break a window. but they area dime a dozen"

Car was described as a "solid rust free project"

Is there an easy way to enter a locked 914 and how many more surprises await??

thanks in advance, I might need it

[Root_Werks]

I think a window glass is cheaper than a door handle so yes, I would tape up the window and break it. Sharp metal punch, tiny tap will do it.

[Shivers]

I left mine hanging in the ignition once. Used a wire coat hanger and made a hook at the end. Hooked the key ring. I don't know where your keys are but a slim jim should catch that rod that opens the door

[Root_Werks]

Oh shoot, forgot to say congrats on a new 914! Hopefully full of good surprises and not rusty ones.

[930cabman]

I left mine hanging in the ignition once. Used a wire coat hanger and made a hook at the end. Hooked the key ring. I don't know where your keys are but a slim jim should catch that rod that opens the door

Thanks, at least I have a few days to work through potential solutions before she arrives. Great idea with the slim jim, I have an extra door laying around that I can experiment with.

If a "solid rust free" 914 shows up, I will not be disappointed

[KELTY360]

I once used a sturdy coat hanger wire to slide between the top and the window and reach across to the lock lever on the other to release took a lot of fiddling. Do you have AAA?

[930cabman]

I once used a sturdy coat hanger wire to slide between the top and the window and reach across to the lock lever on the other to release took a lot of fiddling. Do you have AAA?

No, but a do know a good locksmith well. Might be worth $100. instead of a broken window.

[Cairo94507]

Congratulations on the new 914. Sucks about the keys locked int he car. I would call road service or pay a locksmith to open the door. I would not break the glass.

I guess you could fiddle with a coat hanger. If you have a young son, high school or Jr. college, give him a stout coat hanger, not the cheap crap you see today and ask him to open the door and if he opens it with no damage to the car, give him $50. I would tape off any painted surfaces first before you go that route. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

[930cabman]

From what I understand, the problem is in the handle/lock connection. Perhaps a 50 year lack of lubrication ....

I would consider removing the windshield, it may be the least intrusive entry

[Chris914n6]

There is a plastic piece that breaks that attaches the flap to the latch. So the door could actually be unlocked.
In that case you just need to pull the inner door handle via wire from the other door. The window will pull out enough to do that.

Or roll down the window....

[StarBear]

I once used a sturdy coat hanger wire to slide between the top and the window and reach across to the lock lever on the other to release took a lot of fiddling. Do you have AAA?

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif) Yep; did that too. Tediuous and took a while but it worked. Easier the time I left the keys on the seat, but same principle.

[930cabman]

Thanks all, I will report back when this girl arrives, supposed to be filled with extra parts too.

[mepstein]

I got one open with a coat hanger to grab the targa latch. Took me like 30 seconds.

[bretth]

I don't know if it will apply but I locked the keys in a rental truck 2 years ago. Uhaul told me to call the police to unlock it. Sure enough they came out gave me a strange look but opened it up with a couple tools he had. Just don't call 911, I called the local police number. Congrats on the car.

[SirAndy]

That one time i left my keys inside the 914, the AAA guy got the door open in less than 10 seconds with some flat metal hook contraption.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/huh.gif)

[Spoke]

I locked the keys in my 914 once. I ended up sliding a flat piece of 20ga steel 2 inches wide in between the window and the roof and used the steel to hit the window crank to lower the window enough to get my arm in to open the door.

[CptTripps]

As others have mentioned, its easy to "jimmy" the lock on a 914. Cops used to do it for you, but AAA is a good bet too.

But...if you do end up breaking a window, I'm not too far away in Cleveland and can ship you a replacement window. I should have extras coming in this week from a set of doors I'm buying. Just PM me your address and I'll get one off to you.

[ClayPerrine]

If you do have to break a window, I would break the little triangle window. I have never seen one break, and it is easier to replace than the big window.

And I have opened a 914 with a coat hanger before too. It just takes patience.

Clay

[Johny Blackstain]

Back in the 70's I noticed my Dad refused to use any of the locks on the LE; never locked anything (doors/trunks/glove box) and he lubed the locks. He was the same way with the Bug, the Rabbit and the Scirocco. I picked up the habit myself (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[mepstein]

Back in the 70's I noticed my Dad refused to use any of the locks on the LE; never locked anything (doors/trunks/glove box) and he lubed the locks. He was the same way with the Bug, the Rabbit and the Scirocco. I picked up the habit myself (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

Back in the mid 80's, i drove my 914 to see my friend in NYC. I jumped out of the car when I saw her, we started talking and walking and I didn't just forget to lock the car, I never even put the top back on. We went out that night, I slept over and the next day saw that I had left the car wide open. No body touched a thing. Lucky...